Seed dispenser for planters

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic seed dispenser assembly mounted on a traveling frame, comprising in a compact longitudinal alignment centrally of the frame, a seed hopper, an air blower and a rotary seed selector drum sharing a common wall with the blower and receiving air under pressure therefrom. Seed is fed from the hopper to the drum by a seed delivery tube which is disposed below the blower and connected at one end to the drum and at its other end to a hopper discharge outlet which is laterally displaced from the center of the hopper.

United States Patent [191 auman et al.

[ 1 Nov. 19, 1974 1 SEED DISPENSER FOR PLANTERS [76] Inventors: Jack L.Bauman, 210 Robin Hill;

Vedrick A. Erickson, 865 S. Wright St., both of Naperville, Ill. 6054022 Filed: Apr. 27, 1973 211 App]. No.1354,968

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 162,091, July 13,1971, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 111/77, 221/211, 221/278 [51] Int. Cl. A01c 23/02 [58] Fieldof Search 111/77; 221/211, 278

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,017 7/1952 Bolen221/278 X 3,482,735 12/1969 Goulter 111/77 X 9/1972 Weitz 221/211 9/1970McCallum 111/77 Primary ExaminerStephen C. Pellegrino Attorney, Agent,or Firm--F. David AuBuchon; Floyd B. Harman [5 7] ABSTRACT A pneumaticseed dispenser assembly mounted on a traveling frame, comprising in acompact longitudinal alignment centrally of the frame, a seed hopper, anair blower and a rotary seed selector drum sharing a common wall withthe blower and receiving air under pressure therefrom. Seed is fed fromthe hopper to the drum by aseed delivery tube which is disposed belowthe blower and connected at one end to the drum and at its other end toa hopper discharge outlet which is laterally displaced from the centerof the hopper.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures marae SEED DISPENSER FOR PLANTERS This is adivision, of application Ser. No. 162,091, filed July 13, 1971, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,762,603.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIO 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to dispensers andparticularly to planters. More specifically, the invention concerns aplanter of the pneumatic type.

2. Description of the Prior Art Planters of the pneumatic type utilizingair pressure differential in a rotatable seed selector to retain seed ata pickup opening by vacuum or by pressure greater than atmospheric anddischarge the seed after a predetermined rotation of the selector byvacuum release or by positive air pressure, are known. Planters of thistype are shown for example in the U.S. Pats. to: Dodwell, No. 2,960,258of Nov. 15, 1960; Clow, No. 3,240,175 of Mar. 15, 1966; Winter, No.3,142,274 of July 28, 1964; and Ferrault, No. 3,412,908 of Nov. 26,1968. Such planters have been cumbersome, and the relationship of theseed source to the seed selector or metering device has causedinefficient and ununiform delivery of seed thereto with consequentfailure to fill all of the seed pickup openings. Furthermore, thehaphazard relationship of the air pump or blower to the seed selectorhas been accompanied by air losses resulting in abnormally high powerrequirements for operating the blower, impairing the efficiency of thepickup openings in the seed selector to attract and retain a seed andcarry it to the discharge area, and to discharge the seed to the furrowopeners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Under optimum conditions each of a plurality ofseed pickup openings in a pneumatic seed selector of the type with whichthis invention is concerned will attract and hold a single seed and willsuccessively discharge to the ground single seeds at uniform intervals.However, prior planters have, due to the disadvantages referred to,retained more than one seed in a pickup opening or have failed to fillall of the openings and to discharge the seeds uniformly.

Therefore, the present invention contemplates the provision of adispenser assembly for a planter wherein the interacting components areadvantageously arranged in a compact unit to feed seed from a hopper tothe interior of a seed selector drum having peripheral openings thereinand to deliver air under pressure from a blower to the drum to seat seedin the openings and to discharge the seed to the planter furrow openers.The dispenser assembly comprises a support structure mounted on theplanter frame which supports the seed hopper centrally of the frame.Rearwardly of the hopper and closely adjacent thereto the supportstructure carries an air pump or blower having a rear wall on which isrotatably mounted the selector drum, said rear wall of the blowerforming a common wall with the drum. The components of the dispenserassembly are thus closely associated and combine to achieve maximumefficiency in feeding seed to the selector drum with minimum loss of airpressure from the blower.

An object of the invention is the provision, in an improved seeddispenser of the pneumatic type wherein a rotary seed selector isrevolved in the presence of a supply of seed which is fed to theselector from a seed hopper in close association therewith, the seedbeing received and held in openings in the periphery of the selectorduring a predetermined rotation thereof and discharged by air underpressure supplied by an air blower in close association with the hopperand the selector.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a planter of thepneumatic type having a mobile supporting frame carrying a plurality offurrow openers, of a seed dispenser assembly centrally disposed on theplanter frame and including a seed hopper, an air blower and a rotatableseed selector having a connection to the hopper and to the blower toreceive seed and air under pressure, respectively, therefrom and todischarge the seed by high pressure air to the furrow openers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atrailbehind planter adapted for connection to a tractor "and havingmounted thereon a pneumatic seed dispenser assembly incorporating thefeatures of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation, with parts removed, of the dispenserassembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is aplan view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The planter shown in FIG. 1comprises a rectangular frame 10 including front and rear angle bars 11and 12, respectively, and end plates 13, rotatably supporting the endsof a shaft 14 to which are affixed rearwardly extending arms 15 upon theends of which are mounted wheels 16. Shaft 14 also carries a pluralityof brackets 17 to which are pivotally connected the forward ends of draglinks 18, upon which are mounted furrow opener units 19.

A hitch structure 20 is secured to and extends forwardly from theplanter frame and is, adapted for connection to a tractor of any wellknown type, not shown, having a power take-off shaft.

A seed dispenser assembly generally designated by the numeral 21 iscarried by the planter frame and comprises a seed hopper 22, an air pumpor blower 23 and a seed selector drum 24, disposed in a vertical planeextending longitudinally of the direction of travel of the planter. Thedispenser assembly is mounted on the planter frame by a supportingstructure 25 comprising laterally spaced side plates 26 extending in thedirection of travel and affixed to the central portion of the planterframe.

Seed hopper 22 is mounted between the forward ends of plates 26, and thehousing for blower 23 is mounted between the side plates 26 adjacent butspaced somewhat from the rear wall 27 of the hopper. The rear ends ofside plates 26 of the dispenser support are connected by a transversebrace 28.

Blower 23 comprises a forward wall 29 and a rear wall 30 having anopening 31 therein and connected to the forward wall by a closure member32. The housing encloses a fan or vaned member 33, mounted on a shaft 34extending in the direction of travel in longitudinal alignment with theseed hopper, and at one side the closure 32 communicates with adownwardly and rearwardly directed air discharge tube 35.

Walls 29 and 30 of the blower are provided with flanges 36 by which theblower is secured to the sides 26 of the supporting structure 25, andrear wall 30 of the blower extends vertically downwardly to form astationary supporting member and forward wall for the seed selector drum24. Drum 24 includes an outer or rear wall 37 and a cylindricalperipheral portion 38, and is driven in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 3 by a shaft 39. Shaft 39 is rotatably mounted in the forwardstationary wall 30 about an axis parallel to and generally in the samevertical plane as the axis of blower shaft 34, and its rear end issecured to outer wall 37 of the drum.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper bottom 40 slopes downwardly from front torear. Also as viewed from the rear in FIG. 3, the hopper bottom 40slopes laterally inwardly to form a relatively long bottom portion 41and a relatively short portion 42 converging at a location laterallyremoved from the longitudinal center line of the hopper and of theblower and seed selector drum. A discharge outlet 43 is formed in thelower portion 44 of rear wall 27 of the hopper, as indicated in FIG. 2.

Seed discharge outlet 43 is connected to the upper end of a tubularguide member or chute 45 which is directed downwardly and rearwardly,and diagonally inwardly below the blower and the drum shaft 39, and isconnected to an opening 46 in the lower portion of the stationaryforward wall 30 of the drum. Seed flows from the hopper 22, throughchute 45 and into drum 24 to form a seed supply in the bottom thereof.

Blower fan 33 mounted on shaft 34 comprises vanes 47 curved at theirouter ends into the direction of rotation and, as indicated in FIG. 3,air discharge tube 35 delivers air under pressure to the drum through anopening 48 in the stationary wall 30.

Fan drive shaft 34 is rotatable in a bearing 49 carried by wall 29 andits forwardly projecting end is supported in a bearing 50 carried by theplanter frame. A pulley 51 mounted on shaft 34 is driven from a largerpulley 52 mounted on a shaft 53 receiving its drive in any suitablemanner, not shown, from the power take-off shaft of the tractor by whichthe implement is propelled.

Drum drive shaft 39 extends forwardly and is revolved in the oppositedirection from the blower by suitable gearing, in a manner not shown,from one of the ground engaging wheels 16.

The construction and operation of the seed selecting and dischargemechanism within the drum 24 form, per se, no part of the presentinvention. Reference is hereby made to the above mentioned applicationto Loesch, et al, for a complete disclosure of the seed selectingmechanism. It will suffice for an understanding of the subject inventionto note that the periphery 38 of the drum is provided withcircumferentially spaced rows of seed-receiving openings 54 andindividual seeds filling the openings are held-there by the pressuredifferential between external atmospheric and the high pressure airintroduced into the drum.

Seed picked up by the openings 54 from the seed supply in the bottom ofthe drum is carried upwardly in the direction of drum rotation indicatedby the arrow in FIG. 3 to a location near the top of the drum where theseed is released.

Release of the seed from the openings 54 is caused by the provision ofaseries of rollers or wheels 55, preferably made of rubber, rotatablymounted on a shaft 56 carried by a fork 57, shown in FIG. 4. Fork 57 ispivotally connected to one of the supports 26 and has an arm 58projecting through a slot provided in the other supporting plate 26 toaccommodate raising the rollers, out of engagement with the drum. As theouter edges of openings 54 successively move into engagement with therollers the pressure differential between the inside and outside of theseed openings is negative and the seeds are released.

High pressure air from the drum flows through the discharge tubes 58 andcarries the released seeds along with it. The discharge tubes which aredirected downwardly and forwardly of the direction of travel, as shownin FIG. 2, extend through suitable apertures provided in the forwardwall 30 of the drum and are connected, in a manner not shown, to seedguide tubes 60. As indicated in FIG. 1, seed guide tubes 60 extendlaterally from the selector drum and carry the seed to the furrow openerunits 19.

The combination and arrangement of the seed dispensing components ofthis invention herein described efficiently and economically meters seedsupplied from a hopper carried by a mobile planter and discharges theseed to the furrows formed by the planter furrow openers at regularintervals and with a minimum expenditure of power, and the constructionand operation thereof should be clearly understood from the foregoingdescription.

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a planter, a transversely elongated traveling frame having spacedfurrow openers thereon, a seed dispenser assembly comprising a seedhopper centrally mounted on the frame having a seed discharge outlet inits bottom, an air blower mounted on the frame adjacent the hopper, asupporting member carried by said frame and extending below said blower,said supporting member having a first and a second surface, a driveshaft rotatably mounted in said supporting member vertically spaced fromthe blower, and a seed selector drum mounted on said drive shaftadjacent said first surface of said supporting member, said supportingmember having openings therein communicating through a chute and a tubeprotruding from said second surface with said discharge outlet and saidblower respectively to direct seed and air under pressure respectivelyto the interior of the drum.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein said drum has aperipheral portion having seed-receiving openings therein and an outerwall secured to said drive shaft, and wherein said first surface of thesupporting member forms the inner wall of said drum.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein said supporting member isa downward extension of one wall of said blower.

6. In a planter, a transversely elongated traveling frame having spacedfurrow openers thereon, a seed dispenser assembly comprising a dispensersupport structure centrally mounted on the planter frame and extendinglongitudinally of the direction of travel, a seed hopper carried by saidsupport structure having a seed discharge outlet in its lower portion,an air blower housing mounted on said support structure in generallylongitudinal alignment with the hopper and having spaced walls, one ofsaid walls having a vertical extension, an opening formed in saidvertical extension, a seed selector drum rotatably mounted on saidextension such that said opening is in communication with the interiorof said seed selector drum and means providing communication between thedischarge outlet in the hopper and the interior of the drum and betweenthe blower and the interior of the drum to direct seed and air underpressure respectively to the drum.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6, wherein said drum has an outerwall and a peripheral portion having seed-receiving openings therein andsaid vertical extension forms an inner stationary wall for the drum.

8. The invention set forth in claim 7, wherein a drive shaft isrotatably mounted in said stationary wall and is secured to the outerwall of the drum.

UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE D CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.Dated November 19, 1974 I lnventoflsy Jack L. Bjanrnan jet al V It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

v l. v v 4 Title page, undeij 'invento rs' names, insert:

A'ssignee International Harvester Compeny Chicago, Illinois I Signed,and sealed this 11th day of February 1975.

(SEA-L) Attest: v

v T c. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Y Commissioner of Patents,

Attesting Officer 7 I and Trademarks uscomMi-oe 6 0376-P69 U.S.GOVIRNMENT PRINTING OFFICE {19" 0--36l-8Sl.

FORM PD- 105O (IO-6ST

1. In a planter, a transversely elongated traveling frame having spacedfurrow openers thereon, a seed dispenser assembly comprising a seedhopper centrally mounted on the frame having a seed discharge outlet inits bottom, an air blower mounted on the frame adjacent the hopper, asupporting member carried by said frame and extending below said blower,said supporting member having a first and a second surface, a driveshaft rotatably mounted in said supporting member vertically spaced fromthe blower, and a seed selector drum mounted on said drive shaftadjacent said first surface of said supporting member, said supportingmember having openings therein communicating through a chute and a tubeprotruding from said second surface with said discharge outlet and saidblower respectively to direct seed and air under pressure respectivelyto the interior of the drum.
 2. The invention set forth in claim 1,wherein said drum has a peripheral portion having seed-receivingopenings therein and an outer wall secured to said drive shaft, andwherein said first surface of the supporting member forms the inner wallof said drum.
 3. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein saidsupporting member is a downward extension of one wall of said blower. 4.The invention set forth in claim 3, wherein seed guide tubes extend fromthe interior of the drum to said furrow openers and said inner wall ofthe drum is apertured to receive said tubes.
 5. The invention set forthin claim 4, wherein said discharge outlet in the hopper is laterallyremoved from the longitudinal center line of the hopper and wherein saidchute is a tubular member extending downwardly and diagonally rearwardlyand inwardly for connection to the drum at a location below the axis ofthe latter.
 6. In a planter, a transversely elongated traveling framehaving spaced furrow openers thereon, a seed dispenser assemblycomprising a dispenser support structure centrally mounted on theplanter frame and extending longitudinally of the direction of travel, aseed hopper carried by said support structure having a seed dischargeoutlet in its lower portion, an air blower housing mounted on saidsupport structure in generally longitudinal alignment with the hopperand having spaced walls, one of said walls having a vertical extension,an opening formed in said vertical extension, a seed selector drumrotatably mounted on said extension such that said opening is incommunication with the interior of said seed selector drum and meansproviding communication between the discharge outlet in the hopper andthe interior of the drum and between the blower and the interior of thedrum to direct seed and air under pressure respectively to the drum. 7.The invention set forth in claim 6, wherein said drum has an outer walland a peripheral portion having seed-receiving openings therein and saidvertical extension forms an inner statIonary wall for the drum.
 8. Theinvention set forth in claim 7, wherein a drive shaft is rotatablymounted in said stationary wall and is secured to the outer wall of thedrum.